Electromagnet.



E. PRICE. ELEGTROMAGNET. APPLICATION FILED DBG. 26, 1911.

Patented June 4, 1912.

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a @MMIII Hi: ATTDRNEY' E. PRICE. ELBGTROMAGNET. APPLICATION FILED Dnojze, 1911.

1,028,385. Patented June 4, 191.2.

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ff lum INVENTDR: EDGAR FFUCE:

Hi: ATTURNEY UNITED STA TES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR PRICE, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTROMAGNET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1912.,

Application filed December 26, 1911. Serial No. 667,926.

and is particularly applicable to electromagnets which are used for releasing or applying brakes.

It is well known that if an electric current is supplied to the solenoid of an electromagnet having a stationary armature and a movable core, the core will move so as to reduce the reluctance of the magnetic circuit, that is, to close the magnetic circuit. If the core has considerable mass, itrstrikes the stationary armature a heavy blow due to its momentum. Such blows subject the apparatus to severe strains.l

My invention has for its object to provide an electromagnet which is free from such shocks and strains.

To this end, my invention consists in a novel arrangement and construction of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure is a side elevation of an electromagnet ernbodying my 1nvent1on and shown 1n connection with a brake; Fig. 2 is a fragmentaryv 5 front view, partly in section, of the electromagnet.; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view similar to Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1, 1 are solenoids, or coils of the electromagnet, and 2 'and 3 are relatively movable magnetic members. I have shown the member 2 as a stationary armature, and the member 3 as a Vmovable core having a plurality of legs 4, 11.

The armature 2 is substantially equal in length to the distance between the legs, and

when the coils 1, 1 are energized the core 3 moves upward and the sides of the legs pass the ends of the armature 2. Supported and guided at the ends of the armature 2 are freely movable magnetic members 5, 5, which, upon energization of the coilsrhave va downward and sidewise drag upon them- Lwhichresist the upward movement of vthe 'core 3, as will be hereinafter described.

In the I particular arrangement shown,

there are two of my electromagnets side'by .side designed for operation'byalternatmg vshock of the impact. i'of the core pass the end of the armature,

current, the coils 1 of which are bolted to a base 6. The coils 1 have openings through their centers through which the legs l move. The armature 2 is built up of laminations, which are held between side plates, and is held stationary by being fastened Ato the coils 1 byl bolts 7 which pass through the side plates. The side plates have'riveted to their outer -ends L-shaped guides 8 for the members 5. Screwed into the side plates are vertical rods 9 which carry supports 10`for buifers 11, which I have shown as springs,

.but which may be made of any suitable elastic material. The cores 3 are built up of laminations held between guide plates 12. These cores are mounted on and movable with a member 13. Guide rods 14 are screwed into lugs 15 of the giide plates 12 and the member 13 is held against the cores 3 .by means of nuts 15 on the ends of the rods 14. The rods 14 are guided by lugs 16 on the side plates of the armature. A second member 17 is fastened to the upper ends of the rods 14. between shoulders 18 on the rods and nuts 19. A clevis 20 is fastened to the member 1 7 and is connected-to the` brake lever 21 through a link 22. The brake shown in Fig. 1 comprises yokes 23 connect-A ed .to the brake 'lever and a brake wheel 24.

which is engaged by the shoes 25 mounted in the yokes.

The operation of my device is as follows:

When the coils 1 are energized, the legs 4c of the core will move upwardly through the centers of the coils to shorten the magnetic circuit. The members' 5 will have atendency to move downward due to the magnetic pull \upon them, but will be prevented by the projections 26. These members 5`will also have a sidewise magnetic pull upon them since the flux passes through the sides of these members into the ends of the armature. This causes them to frictionally engage the ends of the armature and increases their resistance to upward movement. When the legs of the core engage the members 5, the latter will resist any further upward movement of the former, but the momentum of the 'core 3 together with the magnetic forces acting upon it may be sulicientto overcome the resistance of the members 5 and may move them so far thatthey strike the buifer springs 11, which absorbsY the As soon as the legs other leg of the U. The core 3 will not,

them, because the flux now passes from one of said armature, and a movable core in the capable of passing the ends of said armature and engaging said movable members.

Vof a U, vsaid armature being substantially there is a very heavy side magnetic pull on leg,` of the U through the armature to the therefore, follow the members 5 and will come to rest without any appreciable shock or strain to the magnet. The upward movement of the core 3 rotates the brake lever 2l and allows the yokes 23 to fall away from the brake wheel 24 by gravity, thus releasing the pressure of the shoes 25 against the wheel. When-the coils` l are denergized, the core 3 will fall by gravity and again apply the brake shoes to the wheel 24.

My electromagnet may be used for various purposes, and I desire it .to be understood that my invention is not limited to the particular construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, but aim in the appendedv claims to cover all modifications which do not depart? from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. An electromagnet comprising a coil, a stationary armature, two movable magnetic members at the endsof said armature, and a movable core inthe shape of a Ufsaid armature being substantially equal in length to the distance between the legs of said U, whereby said legs are capable of passing the ends of said armature and engaging said movable members.

2. An electromagnet comprising a coil, a stationary armature, two movable magnetic members at the ends of said armature, a movable core Vin the shape of a U, said armature being substantially equal in length to the distance between the legs of said U, whereby said legs are capable of passingthe ends ,of said armature and vengaging said movable members, and buliers limiting the movement of said movable members.

3. An electromagnet comprising a coil, a stationary armature, two movable magnetic members supported and guided at the ends shapeeof a U, said armature being substantially equal in length to the distance between the legs ofV sa'id U, whereby said legs are 4:. An electromagnet comprising a coil, a stationary armature, two'movable magnetic members supported and ided at theends of said armature, a movab e core in the shape equal in length to the distance between the legs of said U, whereby said legs are capable of passing the ends of said armature andA engaging said movable members, and buffers limiting the movement of said movable members. Y

5. An electromagnet comprising two coils, a movable, U-shaped core, a stationary armature, two movable magnetic members supported and guided at the ends of said armature, said armature being substantially equal in length to the distance between the legs of said U-shaped core, whereby said legs are capable of moving within said coils, passing the ends of said armature and moving said movable magnetic members when said coils are energized. 6. An electromagnet comprising two coils,` a movable, U-shaped core, a stationary armature, 'two movable magnetic members sup` ported and guided at the ends of said armature, two movable magnetic members supin length to the distance between the legs of said U-shaped core, whereby said legs are capable 'of `moving within said coils, passing the ends of said armature and moving said movable magnetic members when .said coils are energized, and buffers limiting the movement of said movable members.

7. An electromagnet comprising two eX- citing coils, a stationary armature supported on said coils, two movable magnetic members supported and guided at the ends of said armature, movable,'-|Ushaped core, said armature being substantially equal in length to the distance between the legs of said U-shapedv core, whereby said legs are capable of moving within said coils, passing the ends of said armature and engaging `said movable.' members whensaid coils are energized. A

8. An' electromagnet comprislng two ex- ;citing coils, a stationary armature supported on said coils, two movable magnetic members supported and guided at the ends of said armature, a movable, U-shaped core, said armature being substantially equal in 'length to the distance between the legs of said U-shapedcore, whereby said legs are capable of moving within said coils, lpassing' the ends o'f said armature and engaging said movable members when said coils are energized, and buffers limitingthe movement of said movable members. In witness whereof, I have hereunto se my hand this 22nd day of December, 1911.

EDGAR PRICE.

Witnesses BENJAMIN B. HULL, -HELEN GRrjoRD. 

